The Clinic/Community Health Systems alliance “comes as top medical names are creating more affiliations with health-care providers around the country,” The Journal reports. “These can take many forms, but often resemble a sort of health care version of the franchise arrangements common in other industries: The leading center shares clinical protocols and advice, and the local hospital, which typically pays a fee, can publicize the relationship to prospective patients.”

Top medical centers are attracted to the alliances, The Journal says, because they are “being squeezed financially, partly because of cutbacks tied to the federal health law, and are looking for new sources of revenue and referrals.” In turn, local hospital systems “are trying to improve quality metrics, which are increasingly tied to payments, and get a marketing edge as they compete in increasingly consolidated local marketplaces.”

Modern Healthcare, a sister publication of Crain's Cleveland Business, characterizes the deal as “one of the first major alliances to link academic medicine to the private sector.”

Investors, though, haven't had much reaction to the deal. Stock of publicly traded Community Health Systems was up only 4 cents, to $43.41, as of 11:35 this morning.

In the mix?

The news service reports that the family owners of VAT Valve have hired Leonardo Inc. as an adviser to help sell the company for a price estimated at more than $500 million, say two people with knowledge of the situation.

VAT Valve has annual sales of more than $300 million “and may attract bids from OC Oerlikon Corp. of Switzerland, Eaton Corp. and private-equity investors, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the process is private,” according to the story.

She says the president's appointees do not reflect the nation's diverse population — at least, so far.

“I am concerned that you have moved forward with new cabinet appointments and yet, to date, none of them have been African American,” Rep. Fudge wrote in a letter to the president. “You have publicly expressed your commitment to retaining diversity within your cabinet. However, the people you have chosen to appoint in this new term have hardly been reflective of this country's diversity.”

Rep. Fudge said in the letter that the Congressional Black Caucus had recommended “a number of qualified candidates” that the administration has passed over for various positions, according to TheHill.com.

“Congressional Black Caucus offices have had numerous phone calls from constituents questioning why none of the new appointees will be able to speak to the unique needs of African Americans,” Rep. Fudge wrote. “Their ire is compounded by the overwhelming support you've received from the African-American community. As you continue choosing your critical advisors, we want to stress the importance of ensuring every community has a seat at the table. The absence of diverse voices leads to policies and programs that adversely impact African Americans.”

The website says Attorney General Eric Holder, appointed in President Obama's first term, remains the administration's only black cabinet-level appointee.

Meanwhile, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, is not pleased with the president's choice to run the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bloomberg reports that some Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee who will question Mary Jo White want her to provide more information about her ties to large banks. Ms. White, 65, has said she would retire from New York-based Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, where she has served as a lawyer defending Wall Street, if she's confirmed by the Senate.

Ms. White's nomination does not appear to be in jeopardy, but Sen. Brown, for one, says he isn't ready to support her for the job.

“I've got concerns about conflicts of interest,” he tells Bloomberg. “I have concerns about her ties to a law firm that have not been cut. I don't understand that.”

Eat, pray, love the cookies

For at least 1,500 years, The New York Timessays, “monastic orders have been producing fine foods and spirits to barter and sell.” Today, monastic gourmet still pays the bills — and one of the prime examples comes from Cleveland.

“In contrast to the solemnity of the monastic vow, the marketing of monastic food has become contemporary, even tongue-in-cheek,” The Times notes.

Will Keller, founder of monasterygreetings.com, a distributor that represents about 75 monasteries, tells The Times that popular items include NunBetter Cookies, baked by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Cleveland, and Praylines, made by the nuns at the St. Benedictine monastery in Canyon, Tex.

Another good seller, Mystic Monk Coffee, roasted by the Carmelite monks of Cody, Wyo., features a single-serving pod called a “monk shot,” according to Mr. Keller.

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